Season: July to August. Historically, sweetened vinegars were valued for their medicinal qualities and were typically used to relieve coughs and treat fevers and colds. During the nineteenth century, raspberry vinegar in particular was recommended as a refreshing tonic to overcome weariness. But fruit vinegars have a multitude of culinary uses too, and I certainly wouldn’t want to be without a bottle or two in the kitchen. Use raspberry vinegar on salads–either neat or blended with olive oil. I also love it trickled over goat’s cheese, crepes, and even ice cream. You’ll also find that a spoonful adds a lovely piquancy to savory sauces. For a revitalizing summer drink, mix a couple of tablespoonfuls of raspberry vinegar with soda or tonic water and add ice. The fruit for a vinegar needs to be gathered on a dry day. If the fruit is wet, it will dilute the vinegar and adversely affect its keeping quality.
Recipe information
Yield
makes 6 cups
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Put the raspberries in a bowl and crush them lightly with a wooden spoon. Add the vinegar. Cover the bowl and let the fruit and vinegar steep for 4 to 5 days, stirring occasionally.
Step 2
Pour the fruit and vinegar into a jelly strainer bag or piece of cheesecloth suspended over a bowl (see p. 33) and let drain overnight. You can squeeze it a little if you like.
Step 3
Measure the liquid, then pour into a saucepan. For every cup of fruit vinegar, add 1 cup of sugar. Place over low heat and bring gently to a boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for 8 to 10 minutes, removing any scum as it rises. Remove from the heat and let cool, then bottle and seal (see p. 125). Use within 1 year.
VARIATIONs
Step 4
Replace the raspberries with the same quantity of strawberries, black currants, or blackberries to create other fruit vinegars.
